Adjustable picture frame



April 1937. c. M. TURSKY 2,078,744

ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Filed Sept. 12, 1936 FIG. 1. I v 5 WVE/VTO/E CHA/ELES M. Times/(r,

Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE ADJUSTABLE PICTURE FRAME Charles M. Tursky, Turtle Creek, Pa. Application September 12, 1936, Serial No. 100,456

7 Claims.

My invention relates to rectangular frames having members in telescopic relation to permit manual adjustment thereof to fit pictures of different sizes. As hereinafter described, the purpose and effect of my invention is to provide means for imposing frictional resistance to changes in the form of the frame and for preventing the members of the frame from being entirely separated after they are initially assembled.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawing; Fig. I is an elevation of one face of a frame conveniently embodying my invention; part of one of the frame members being broken away to show the interior construction.

Fig. II is a perspective View of the spring shown in section at the broken portion of Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line III, III, in Fig. I, in the direction of the arrows on said line.

In said figures; the frame includes four similar corner pieces l each forming two rectangular tubular sockets 2 and 3 at right angles to each other to receive and completely annularly surround the ends of connecting bars l and 5 in telescopic relation with said sockets.

The side Walls of said sockets which are otherwise rigidly connected as shown, are cut apart at the corners of their inner ends, as shown in Fig. I, and are offset inwardly as indicated at 6 and I, sothat the free ends 2' and 3? of said sockets resiliently frictionally engage said bars upon all four sides of the latter. Such offset construction forms recesses 8 and 9 between the inner walls of said sockets and said bars 4 and 5 for reception of thin steel springs l0 which are all alike and of sectoral cylindrical cross section as indicated in Fig. II.

In order to limit the extent of the outward movement of said corner pieces I with respect to said bars 4 and 5; said springs 10, which are retained in the sockets by abutment of their outer ends against the shoulders H and i2 of the sockets, have tabs l4 struck inwardly from their webs, forming hooks with their free ends pointing outwardly toward the corners of the frame and adapted to snap into notches l5 in said bars 4 and 5 to prevent the corner pieces from being entirely withdrawn from said bars after the frame is initially assembled.

Each of said corner pieces has a pair of inwardly extending flanges I6 spaced transversely with respect to the plane of the frame to embrace between them two glass panels l8 and I9 which hold between them a photograph or other picture 20.

I find it convenient to form said bars 4 and 5 of commercial brass tubing which is chrome plated and to paint the outer surface of the corner pieces black. However, it is obvious that frames of the character described may be formed otherwise than as above indicated.

As the free ends 2' and 3 of the sockets 2 and 3 function as spring fingers engaging the bars 4 and 5 upon all four sides; it is unneces- 'sary to provide springs l0 upon more than one of the four sides of said bars. However, in some forms of my invention I allow the free ends of the sockets to slide freely upon the bars 4 and 5 without resiliently frictionally engaging them, and provide springs l0 upon two opposite sides of the bars, for instance, upon the sides of the bars which are respectively inner and outer with H reference to the center of the frame, or, I may interpose springs l0 between the inner walls of the sockets and all four sides of the bars. However, it is unnecessary in any of those forms of my invention to provide more than one spring ill in each socket with a hook, to efiectively prevent the separation of the corner pieces from the bars after those frame members are initially assembled.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an adjustable picture frame, the combination with a corner piece having a tubular socket; of a bar slidably fitted in telescopic relation in said socket; a spring formed of thin sheet metal located between said bar and the inner wall of said socket; a ledge in said socket forming an abutment preventing escape of said spring; a tab struck inwardly from the web of said spring and forming a hook with its free end pointing toward the corner of said frame; said bar having a notch near its end fitted in said socket, forming an abutment for engaging said tab on said spring to prevent withdrawal of said bar from said socket after said frame members have been initially assembled.

2. In an adjustable frame, the combination with four corner pieces, each including two tubular sockets in right angular relation; of four bars forming side members of said frame and having their ends slidably fitted in telescopic relation within respective sockets in said corner pieces; respective springs formed of thin sheet metal respectively located between said bars and the inner walls of said sockets; inwardly projecting ledges in said sockets for retaining said springs in said sockets; tabs struck inwardly from the webs of said springs and each forming a hook with its free end pointing toward the corner of said frame; each of said bars having notches respectively near each of its opposite ends fitted in said sockets, formirg abutments for engaging the tabs on the respective springs to prevent withdrawal of said bars from said sockets after said frame members have been initially assembled.

3. In an adjustable frame, the combination with a corner piece having a tubular socket; of a bar slidably fitted in telescopic relation in said socket; a spring formed of thin sheet metal, bent to sectoral cylindrical form, located between said bar and the inner wall of said socket, and then affording three lines of contact parallel with said bar and socket; whereby said bar is resiliently held in parallel relation with said socket; a ledge in said socket forming an abutment preventing escape of said spring; a tab struck inwardly from the web of said-spring and forming a hook with its free end pointing toward the corner of said frame; said bar having a notch near its end fitted in said socket, forming an abutment for engaging said tab on said spring to prevent withdrawal of said bar from said socket after said frame members have been initially assembled.

4. In an adjustable frame, the combination with four corner pieces, each including two tubular sockets in right angular relation, and respectively rectangular 'in cross section; of four bars forming side members of said frame, respectively rectangular in cross section, and having their ends slidably fitted in telescopic relation within respective sockets in said corner pieces; springs formed of thin sheet metal, bent to sectoral cylindrical form, respectively located between the opposite ends of said bars and the inner walls of said sockets, and each affording three lines of contact parallel with the respective bars and sockets; whereby said bars are resiliently held in parallel relation with said sockets; means in said sockets for retaining said springs in said sockets; each of said springs having a hook with its free end pointing toward the nearest corner of said frame; each of said bars having notches respectively near each of its opposite ends fitted in said sockets, forming abutments for engaging the hooks on the respective springs to prevent Withdrawal of said bars from said sockets after said frame members have been initially assembled.

5. In an adjustable picture frame, the combination with four corner pieces, each including two rigid tubular sockets in right angular relation and respectively completely annular and rectangular in cross section; of four bars forming side members of said frame, respectively completely annular and rectangular in cross section, and having their ends slidably fitted in telescopic relation within respective sockets in said corner pieces; the free ends of said sockets being extended, severed at the corners and offset inwardly to form independently resilient fingers, in quadrangular relation, respectively embracing side surfaces of said bars for frictionally holding the latter in adjusted position, with the bars in parallel relation with said sockets.

6. In an adjustable picture frame, the combination with four corner pieces, each including two, rigid tubular sockets in right angular relation and respectively completely annular and rectangular in cross section; of four bars forming side members of said frame, respectively completely annular and rectangular in cross section, and having their ends slidably fitted in telescopic relation within respective sockets in said corner pieces; the free ends of said sockets being extended, severed at the corners and offset inwardly to form independently resilient fingers, in quadrangular relation, respectively embracing side surfaces of said bars for frictionally holding the .latter in adjusted position, with the bars in parallel relation with said sockets; each of said corner pieces having a pair of parallel plane flanges extending toward the center of the frame two rigid tubular sockets in right angular relation and respectively completely annular and rectangular in cross section; of four bars forming side members of said frame, respectively completely annular and rectangular in cross section, and having their ends slidably fitted in telescopic relation within respective sockets in said corner pieces; separate springs secured in said sockets, engaging side surfaces of said bars for frictionally holding the latter in adjusted position, with the bars in parallel relation with said sockets; each of said corner pieces having a pair of rigidly related flanges extending toward the center of the frame and spaced transversely with respect to the plane of the frame to embrace a plane element between them; said frame being adjustable to hold such plane elements of different area.

CHARLES M. TURSKY. 

